Our Story
Mission
ARYSE supports immigrant and refugee youth in accessing the resources they need to feel confident, engaged, and celebrated. Through advocacy and out-of-school-time programming that focuses on building skills and a sense of community, ARYSE affirms youth’s identities and works alongside them to achieve their vision for their futures.
Vision
ARYSE envisions a future where refugee and immigrant youth, grounded in the power of their knowledge and experiences, confidently lead communities and thrive in a world that celebrates their voices. In this world, their representation in leadership is commonplace, and our community thrives in understanding, celebrating, and learning from their wisdom.
The Past
ARYSE began in 2013 as a grassroots effort led by local refugee leaders and University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students who realized that the refugee youth they were tutoring were experiencing unique challenges in an educational system that was not designed for them. Additionally, they wanted to create a space where their students could experience joy, express themselves creatively, and feel a strong sense of belonging.
In response, the group organized PRYSE Academy, the only summer program in the region specifically tailored to the needs of immigrant and refugee youth, centering literacy development, community building, and storytelling through the arts. In 2017, ARYSE began expanding its program offerings to provide youth with more comprehensive, holistic support throughout the entire year. Since then, ARYSE has grown from serving 25 youth in 2013 to reaching 150-200 youth each year.
The Present
ARYSE is now recognized throughout the region as the premiere out-of-school-time resource for immigrant and refugee youth. ARYSE programs currently serve youth in grades 6-12 who reside in Allegheny County, representing over 15 different countries of origin and speak 30+ different languages. In addition to PRYSE Academy, current program offerings include an arts-focused Girls Art and Maker Group, an academic and career readiness program, After School Club, and an individually tailored program to support ARYSE 12th graders and those in college, Post-Secondary Support.
Embedded in ARYSE programming is a leadership pathway where students enter as youth participants and advance to become counselors, mentors and/or Youth Steering Committee members. The Youth Steering Committee is key to the organizational structure: a youth leadership team of 15 ARYSE students who are eager to grow their leadership skills and inform the trajectory of ARYSE. Similar to staff, members are compensated for their time in meetings, presenting in public forums, working as camp counselors, and any activities related to their contribution to ARYSE. The vision is for youth to set goals of advancement both within the organizational structure and in the outside professional community.
The Future
In many ways, ARYSE is still transitioning from what was a largely volunteer-run organization to one that is fully staffed, resourced, and able to imagine growth both within and beyond the Pittsburgh region. In the coming years, ARYSE envisions expansion of its existing programs to serve the growing number of youth with refugee and immigrant backgrounds, deepening its focus on and commitment to the arts, broadening its university partnerships, and continuing to engage in collaborative, coalition-based work to address structural racism and oppression. As the need for its work continues to grow, ARYSE is committed to centering students’ feedback, perspectives, and aspirations every step of the way.
PRYSE Academy 2013
PRYSE Academy 2017
PRYSE Academy 2025
A big thank you to our supporters
Adams Foundation
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Bartholomew Aguayo
Birmingham Foundation
City of Pittsburgh Community Block Grant
Duquesne Light
Eden Hall Foundation
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
FISA Foundation
The Grable Foundation
Hansen Foundation
Heinz Endowments
McElhattan Foundation
New Philanthropic Leaders
Opportunity Fund
PA Department of Human Services
Partner4Work
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pittsburgh Public Schools
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pitcairn-Crabbe Foundation
PNC Charitable Trusts
Posner Foundation
PPG Foundation
Remake Learning
RK Mellon Foundation
Staunton Farm Foundation
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
